Patent · US Expired

Antifuse element and semiconductor device having antifuse elements

US5679974A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
2References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 1994
Grant dateOct 21, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An antifuse element for a semiconductor device, comprising a bottom electrode made from a conductive material containing a refractory metal and a top electrode made from a conductive material containing a fusible metal. The fusible metal is Al, Al alloy, Cu or Ag. The Al alloy contains at least Si, Cu, Sc, Pd, Ti, Ta or Nb. The refractory metal is Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo or W. Silicides are most preferable as the refractory metal. The semiconductor device is programmed by making the top electrode negative or positive and by applying a breakdown voltage between the bottom and top electrodes so as to break down an antifuse material layer, thereby obtaining a filament. The filament is made from the fusible metal from the top electrode and the refractory metal from the bottom electrode. Thus, the filament has a low resistance, and a good EM resistance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.